During his official visit to Japan, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a Joint Vision Statement on the relationship between Vietnam and Japan, which emphasized cooperation in security and maritime safety.

The statement spoke of the development of bilateral relations in politics, defense, economic security, and other fields. The two sides also committed to strengthening cooperation in regional and international issues.

Notably, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of security and safety at sea and dealing with security issues such as non-traditional security threats, preventing and combating cybercrime, counterterrorism, transnational crime and piracy. They signed a memorandum of cooperation between their maritime police agencies.

Japan affirmed it would continue to support Vietnam in improving its capacity for law enforcement at sea, overcoming the consequences of unexploded ordnance, and joining peacekeeping operations of the United Nations.

Mr. Phong said that Japan has continued to be a long-term and important partner of Vietnam and restated the commitment to pursuing peaceful development and backing Japan’s constructive contributions to peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region and beyond.

The two leaders also promised to liaise closely at ASEAN and East Asia summits and other multilateral forums, as well as on the negotiations for and execution of regional free trade agreements, including the TPP and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.